Unlike dogs, cats are at best semi-domesticated—and we love them for that.

hlehto/Flickr

Dog lovers will find it baffling that cats are the world’s most popular pet. After all, they’re passive-aggressive, emotionally unavailable, and known for their chilly independence—traits that at most qualify felines for the role of “man’s best frenemy.”

It turns out, though, there’s an evolutionary reason for this tense relationship. That is, cats are in many ways still wild.

“Cats, unlike dogs, are really only semi-domesticated,” says Wes Warren, professor of genetics Washington University and co-author of the first complete mapping (paywall) of the house cat genome—specifically, that of an Abyssinian named Cinnamon.

Comparing the DNA differences between house cats and wild cats, Warren and his colleagues found that where the genes of domesticated kitties and wild cats diverge has to do with fur patterns, grace, and docility. The latter are the genes that influence behaviors such as reward-seeking and response to fear.

The context for this split is telling. The divergence likely began some 9,000 years ago, after humans had made the shift to agriculture. Drawn to the teeming rodent populations that gathered during grain harvests, wild cats began interacting with humans. And because cats kept rodents in check, the researchers hypothesize, humans likely encouraged them to stay by offering them food scraps as a reward. These early farmers eventually kept cats that stuck around.

“Selection for docility, as a result of becoming accustomed to humans for food rewards,” write the researchers, “was most likely the major force that altered the first domesticated cat genomes.” In other words, the ones that stuck around were the cats with those genes that encouraged interaction with humans, thereby making those traits prevalent in what became the global domestic cat population.

Not only are cats still mostly wild, but they also pretty much tamed themselves.

As intriguing, though, is what didn’t change in human-friendly cats during those nine millennia. House cats still have the broadest hearing range among carnivores, which allows them to detect their prey’s movement. They also retain their night-vision abilities and the ability to digest high-protein, high-fat diets. This implies that, unlike those of dogs, their genes haven’t evolved to make cats dependent on humans for food.

This indicates only a modest influence of domestication on cat genes, compared with dogs, say the researchers. In fact, according to recent research on canine genomes, dogs became man’s best friend back when humans were still hunting and gathering—between 11,000 and 16,000 years ago. Their typically more omnivorous diets evolved as human lifestyle shifted toward agrarian living.

So why have kitties stayed wilder? The genome-mappers theorize it’s because house cat populations have continued to interbreed with wild cats. Also, humans’ “cat fancy”—meaning, our fanaticism about creating weird cat breeds—only began in the last 200 or so years.

They came for the mice, stayed for the food scraps, and whenever it suited, kept cuddly with the cats from the other side of the granary. In other words, not only are cats still mostly wild, but they also pretty much tamed themselves. Maybe that means humans are “cats’ best friend.”

Ahead of tonight’s bonfire night events, a local vet has given a released a warning for pet owners.

A spokesman for Llanelli veterinary practice Haven Vets said “Just under half of all dogs and many cats will react to the sudden loud noises Firework Night brings.

“Pets can show varied stress reactions to firework noise, some will bark and become over-excited while others will completely withdraw and hide themselves away.

“Some may even soil in the house and some may become destructive which can lead to injury, which is why it is very important that if your animal has suffered from firework phobia before, then be sure to visit your vet well before November 5th.”

The practice have offered tips on mitigating the effects of the loud noises. Vet Susanne Ackroyd said: “There are several ways that you can ensure your pet is as comfortable as possible at this time.

“There are many products on the market specifically to help keep your pet calm and feel secure in their environment before the stress of firework season starts. Also, consider the use of products used to promote relaxation and reduce irritability of highly strung or anxious pets.”

Susanne continues: “Do walk your dog before dark to ensure they are well exercised and relieved before the fireworks begin. Cats should be brought inside before dark when possible so they are safe and secure before the noise starts. Try to settle your animal before the fireworks start as if your animal is in safe, familiar surroundings it will help to cope with the noise.”

“Do provide a safe hiding place for your pet that they can retreat to if needed. At noisy times ensure that your animal can hide in their favourite room – under a table or behind a couch work well for dogs and cardboard boxes and igloos work well for cats. Close the curtains and turn up the TV or radio to drown out the bangs.”

Gudrun Ravetz, a practising vet and veterinary consultant for Pet Health Plans from Denplan, commented: “Pet reactions to the fear of fireworks can be very upsetting for owners and the pets themselves. It is very important for owners to understand these behaviours to try and help their pet feel calmer.

“The most important thing is making sure that your pet is safe at home. Your veterinary surgeon will be able to give you advice on how to keep your pets safe and calm at home and how to start working with your pet to try and sensitise them to fireworks to help reduce the fear for next year.”

According to a recent survey by the Humane Society of the United States, 62 percent of American households own at least one pet. Pet owners spend more than $50 billion per year each their pets, too. Certainly, that’s a lot of money. How can we save more money on our furry, feathered and scaled pet friends?

DEAR JILL: One tip I’ve seen before is don’t buy dogs that have to be groomed. More importantly, Don’t buy dogs or any pets. Adopt, adopt, adopt. — LEE

JILL SAYS: This is a great tip. I think nearly everyone is aware of the pet overpopulation issues in our country. There are far more dogs and cats looking for homes than there are people willing to adopt them. I understand that some people are tied to wanting specific breeds of dogs or cats, but breed-specific rescue groups abound for everything from Jack Russell terriers to Labrador Retrievers.

We recently adopted a new dog through a local rescue group. Our dear senior dog passed away after more than 13 years with our family. After grieving for a few months, we were ready to open our hearts to another dog. The Internet makes it easy to find a local animal shelter or rescue group in your area — many offer online profiles with photos of their adoptable pets.

After connecting with a local group and deciding which dog we wanted to meet, the rescue group brought the dog to our house to meet our family. We were able to see how he interacted with us in our house and yard.

Well, we were all smitten with the German shepherd mix with big brown eyes that curled up in on the living room floor and seemed to be “home!” Less than a week later, we welcomed him home to stay.

Our first dog came from a local farmer whose dog had puppies, and I learned of the advantages to adopting from a dog rescue this time around. With our “farm boy,” we were responsible for all of the costs of vaccinating and neutering our dog. These expenses quickly added up to hundreds of dollars the first year — not including the $400 I paid the farmer for the dog.

When we adopted our new dog from the rescue, our $325 adoption fee included all of his necessary vaccinations and his neutering procedure. They took care of all of these procedures with a local veterinarian before the adoption was finalized.

Another benefit? Adopting from a rescue group meant that our dog had lived with a foster family for a few weeks prior to coming home with us. We were able to get a sense of his personality and behavior by talking to the family. We don’t know much about his previous life, but he arrived at our door completely housebroken and knew some basic obedience commands. That’s a plus you can’t put a price on.

Of course, sometimes you don’t choose a pet — they find you. Last summer, a feral cat showed up in our yard and began living under our deck. She was afraid of people, but she also didn’t seem in a hurry to leave. After a few months, we realized she was likely here to stay.

I don’t mind having a cat around, but I also wasn’t keen on spending more than $300 to have a stray cat spayed. I called our local county’s extension office and learned about their feral cat catch-and-release program. For $35, they would trap, spay and return the cat to the property. This seemed like a small price to pay to ensure that we didn’t end up with more cats living in the backyard — especially when I was informed that female cats can have a litter of kittens every nine weeks.

I mention this as I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s had a pet “find” them unexpectedly. There may be discount spay/neuter programs you can take advantage of if you find yourself in a similar scenario.

According to a recent survey by the Humane Society of the United States, 62 percent of American households own at least one pet. Pet owners spend more than $50 billion per year on their pets, too! Certainly, that’s a lot of money. How can we save more money on our furry, feathered and scaled pet friends?

“Dear Jill,

One tip I’ve seen before is ‘don’t buy dogs that have to be groomed.’ More importantly, ‘Don’t BUY dogs or any pets.’ Adopt, adopt, adopt.

Lee P.”

This is a great tip — I think nearly everyone is aware of the pet overpopulation issues in our country. There are far more dogs and cats looking for homes than there are people willing to adopt them. I understand that some people are tied to wanting specific breeds of dogs or cats, but breed-specific rescue groups abound for everything from Jack Russell terriers to Labrador Retrievers.

We recently adopted a new dog through a local rescue group. Our dear senior dog passed away after more than 13 years with our family. After grieving for a few months, we were ready to open our hearts to another dog. The Internet makes it easy to find a local animal shelter or rescue group in your area — many offer online profiles with photos of their adoptable pets. After connecting with a local group and deciding which dog we wanted to meet, the rescue group brought the dog to our house to meet our family. We were able to see how he interacted with us in our house and yard. Well, we were all smitten with the German Shepherd mix with big brown eyes that curled up in on the living room floor and seemed to be “home!” Less than a week later, we welcomed him home to stay.

Our first dog came from a local farmer whose dog had puppies, and I learned of the advantages to adopting from a dog rescue this time around. With our “farm boy,” we were responsible for all of the costs of vaccinating and neutering our dog. These expenses quickly added up to hundreds of dollars the first year — not including the $400 I paid the farmer for the dog. When we adopted our new dog from the rescue, our $325 adoption fee included all of his necessary vaccinations and his neutering procedure. They took care of all of these procedures with a local veterinarian before the adoption was finalized.

Another benefit? Adopting from a rescue group meant that our dog had lived with a foster family for a few weeks prior to coming home with us. We were able to get a sense of his personality and behavior by talking to the family. We don’t know much about his previous life, but he arrived at our door completely housebroken and knew some basic obedience commands. (That’s a plus you can’t put a price on!)

Of course, sometimes you don’t choose a pet — they find you. Last summer, a feral cat showed up in our yard and began living under our deck. She was afraid of people, but she also didn’t seem in a hurry to leave. After a few months, we realized she was likely here to stay.

I don’t mind having a cat around, but I also wasn’t keen on spending more than $300 to have a stray cat spayed. I called our local county’s extension office and learned about their feral cat catch-and-release program. For $35, they would trap, spay and return the cat to the property. This seemed like a small price to pay to ensure that we didn’t end up with more cats living in the backyard — especially when I was informed that female cats can have a litter of kittens every nine weeks.

I mention this as I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s had a pet “find” them unexpectedly. There may be discount spay/neuter programs you can take advantage of if you find yourself in a similar scenario.

Next week, I’ll share more pet-savings tips from readers.

Jill Cataldo, a coupon workshop instructor, writer and mother of three, never passes up a good deal. Learn more about Super-Couponing at her website, www.jillcataldo.com. Email your own couponing victories and questions to jill@ctwfeatures.com.

PHOENIX, Sept. 28, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In conjunction with World Rabies Day, North Central Animal Hospital announced that the practice is offering rabies vaccinations for $5. The discount is designed to encourage pet owners to make sure pets are up to date on this critical vaccination. Rabies is a virus that is passed between animals when infected saliva comes in contact with open wounds, or an infected animals bites a pet or a human. The virus has been seen all over the world and is common in the wild. Vaccinations are essential to preventing the disease from affecting family pets.

World Rabies Day is September 28, 2014 and to celebrate, North Central Animal Hospital is offering rabies vaccinations for only $5. The discounted vaccination rate is good through the end of 2014.

“Every year, beloved family pets must be put to sleep because they are exposed to a rabid wild animal,” said Dr. Hillary Frank, a veterinarian at North Central Animal Hospital. “Keeping pets up to date on rabies vaccinations is the best way to prevent infection and avoid such a tragic end for beloved family pets.”

Rabies is a serious viral disease that results in death for animals that are infected. The virus affects an animal’s central nervous system, causing erratic, unpredictable behavior. When wild animals are affected, the virus often causes these animals to be more aggressive towards humans and pets. Rabid mountain lions, for instance, have attacked campers and their dogs almost every year in Arizona. If the pet is not vaccinated, it is at risk for rabies.

Dr. Frank stressed that even indoor pets need to be vaccinated against rabies.

“Indoor pets can contract rabies if a rabid animal enters the house through an attic or basement,” said Dr. Frank. “Sadly, if the pet is not vaccinated against rabies, he may have to be put down or undergo a 6 month quarantine. Vaccinations are essential to ensuring pet and human safety.”

Rabies symptoms typically appear about 10 days to two months after the initial infection but this can vary. A dog or cat that has bitten a person or another pet is quarantined for 10 days, because if the virus was transferred via saliva at the time of the bite, the animal will show symptoms or die from Rabies within 10 days.

There is no cure for rabies. Consequently, vaccinating pets is essential to protecting them from contracting the disease. Once a pet begins showing rabies symptoms, no medical intervention is available to stop the disease’s progression.

Puppies and kittens are generally vaccinated against rabies by the age of three months. A second booster shot is given 12 months after the initial vaccination. Additional booster shots may be necessary every one to three years.

Figures have also revealed that break-ups have been the cause of almost a
thousand pets being given up to Blue Cross’ re-homing centers over the past
five years- an average of four pets a week.

Dogs and cats were identified as the most fought over pets followed by horses,
rabbits and guinea pigs.

The charity has partnered with divorce lawyers, Lloyd Platt and Company, in an
attempt to stop the number of pets getting caught up in marital disputes,
and “lessen the stress and heartache for owners and pets alike.”

Jade Crawley, 24, had her French Bulldog, Marley, taken away from her place of
work by her ex-partner after they broke up.

She said: “I haven’t seen Marley for two months since my ex-partner has
blocked all points of contact and moved house.

“It is a cliché but he was like a child to me. It’s hard to even be around
other dogs now.”

Ms Crawley also added that the document was “overdue” and was in “disbelief”
that such legally-binding agreements did not already exist.

The free document, which can be downloaded from the Blue Cross website,
includes a simple Deed of Agreement that sets out who will take ownership in
the event of a divorce or relationship breakdown.

Vanessa Lloyd Platt, divorce lawyer at Lloyd Platt and Company, who developed
the pet nup, said: “Pets are part of the family so in the event of a divorce
who gets to look after the pet, as with children, is sadly all too often the
grounds for much dispute.”

“Just as with the house, the car and the gadgets, it makes sense to agree
right at the outset who gets ownership of the dog, horse, or the
chinchilla.”

How to tell if your pet is bored — and what to do about it

Have you ever seen your cat try to climb a wall, repeatedly jump on your shelves to knock items off or leap onto the chandelier? Or has your dog ever tried to dig up your wall-to-wall carpeting or decided that it’s fun to play tug-of-war with the curtains? These could all be signs that your pet is not getting enough mental stimulation.

Dr. Wailani Sung, a Washington veterinarian, is sharing ways that you can tell if your pet is suffering from boredom — and easy ways to change that.

Mish Whalen / TODAY

Inappropriatebehavior

Often pets are left at home when owners go to work or spend a great deal of time outside of the home due to other demands, such as school or family commitments. Many times, these pets suffer from insufficient physical and mental stimulation. In the absence of adequate outlets, our pets may engage in activities of their own making.

These activities can include appropriate behaviors, such as playing with toys, or inappropriate behaviors, such as chewing on furniture or knocking items off a table. Additional inappropriate or undesirable behaviors include excessive attention seeking, unruliness, vocalizations, playing keep away with an owner’s items or self-directed behavior, such as a pet chasing his own tail.

Dogs may engage in normal “dog” behavior, such as digging in dirt, but to a greater extent than is tolerable — so instead of one hole in the lawn, your backyard may look as if it is being excavated.

For cats, normal “cat” behavior includes chasing moving objects — but that could include your ankles as you walk around the house. If your pet exhibits any of these behaviors excessively, ask yourself how much physical and mental stimulation you are offering him.

Food puzzles and perches

Much like humans, dogs and cats appear to enjoy regular mental stimulation and physical activity. Domesticated cats and dogs typically still engage in certain species-specific activities, such as hunting for food, which can take up a large portion of their waking hours. Even though pets have been domesticated, they still have a drive to engage in these instinctive behaviors. To help satisfy these compulsions, owners can have their pets “work” for their food. Here are a few ideas.

These toys are designed to release food items gradually as the pet interacts with toys. So, for example, instead of inhaling a meal in two minutes flat, your dog will spend 10 to 15 minutes engaged in a good physical and mental activity trying to access his food.

When it comes to cats, felines in the wild can spend up to 40 percent of their day hunting for food, and domestic kitties still have that impulse. For that reason, I like to provide my cats with three to five meals throughout the day. I use a variety of puzzle toys and offer two to three toys in the morning before I leave for work, a few more at dinnertime and then again right before bedtime. This way, my cats will sleep through the night and — hopefully — not wake me up early for their breakfast.

Cats in particular may need to have their food gradually added to the puzzle toys. For example, at first I put a portion of their meals in their bowls and a portion into two toys. I move the toys around and show them how to use them. Sometimes I may smear a bit of canned food onto the toys to encourage them to explore them. This technique also works for dogs.

Phasing in the fun

Another way I encourage my cats to “hunt” for their meals is by hiding their food bowls around the house.

I start by placing one bowl in the cat’s normal feeding area, then I place additional bowls in other areas that I know the cat will walk by or rest close to. Once a cat starts to consistently eat from the bowls, you can move them a few feet away from the original locations. This will encourage the cat to explore the house and search for his or her food.

In multiple-pet households, scatter several toys in different rooms or levels of the house. In the beginning, always closely monitor pets to make sure they know how to work a toy and ensure that there is no fighting over food treasure. You can always close a door or use a pet gate to ensure that one pet does not eat all the food meant for two or more.

Movement, companionship are key

Another way to fight boredom is to make sure your pets are getting enough physical exercise. Taking a dog on at least a daily walk is a good way to provide exercise and enhance mental enrichment. Engaging your cat in a daily game of chase using an item dangling from a fishing pole or tossing an object she can retrieve can also fulfill her physical and mental stimulation needs. Offer various cat trees or ledges for your cat to climb up or jump onto.

Social interaction is vital as well. Make sure you spend quality one-on-one time with your pet. It could be engaging in games, training desirable behaviors using positive reinforcement, or just petting or snuggle time.

Remember, no matter what the activity is, spending time with your pet is one surefire way to combat boredom. If you have tried all these recommendations but still feel like your pet is “acting bored,” don’t hesitate to seek professional help.

After a homeowner passed away, cats found in the home now need new owners.

The “candle kittens”, named after the park where they were found, were discovered by a neighbor in early August. A homeowner had suddenly passed away and the kittens had been left to fend for themselves.

“He had had a heart attack and he called 911, and unfortunately 911 got here too late. And the family members were on the scene right away. They ransacked the house for valuables and they left the animals there to die,” said Debra Stinson, a neighbor. “It’s just wrong to leave animals in there to die.”

After two weeks alone in the house without food or water, the cats were very weak.

“When we first got there, they were very weak. They had been without food for almost three weeks, no water so they were dehydrated, completely flea infested so they were also anemic. She was the last one we pulled out of the trailer, and she was just covered in scabs and scratches from the flea bites. It was terrible, she just came crawling up when we called her,” said Megan McMahon, Animal Resource Center president.

After a little help, the cats are all healthy – a sign of how well they were taken care of while the homeowner was alive. Thanks to help from the Capitol Area Humane Society and the Karen Hartwig Foundation, they will all be fixed and are up to date with vaccinations.

“We’ve started spaying and neutering them, they’ve all had their first round of vaccines, they’ve all tested negative for feline leukemia, so they’ve recovered very quickly,” McMahon said.

Now, these kitties need you to step in.

“They’re all very long, beautiful, sleek cats. They have wonderfully soft coats, very intelligent, playful, and the idea of them being able to get out of the cage and into a home where they can really play and have fun, oh, it’d be wonderful,” McMahon said.

“They definitely need people in the community to come forward and give these beautiful animals a home because they would really be a good pet for someone,” Stinson said.

McMahon said it takes twice as long to clean the cages because the cats are so fun to play with.

Four young adult cats and 12 5-month-old kittens still need to be adopted, and they will get along with other pets.

If you’re interested in adopting or donating toward the cats’ care, contact the Animal Resource Center by clicking HERE.

These questions don’t directly relate to pet behavior or health, but instead are answers to questions regarding my opinions on timely pet-related topics.

Q: You recently wrote about breed-specific bans and communities banning pit bulls. These dogs are always in the news. It seems that whenever there’s a dog attack, a pit bull is involved. Why in the world wouldn’t you want to ban them? – D.S., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

A: Just because news reports say a dog is a pit bull doesn’t mean this is true. Most dogs you see on the street with a stocky muscular body and broad head of a certain size are called “pit bulls.” However, we now understand with modern genetic testing that many such dogs are merely mixed-breeds that fit a certain look. Their genetic background might not even include true pit bulls.

I suggest dogs with a pit bull look may be the most common dogs in America. So there’s also a numbers game going on. You’re not likely to see many reports of American foxhounds attacking anyone. That’s not only because when well socialized, these dogs are very unlikely to attack, but also because there are so few of them.

Years ago, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped paying attention to the reported breed in the event of a dog bite. For starters, their studies determined that the breed in such incidents is often misidentified. What’s most important is why a dog of any breed or mix bites in the first place. We know the most common explanations for dog attacks, and breed is not a big factor.

Q: If you’re such an animal lover, why do you endorse feral cat colonies being placed where rats are for rat control? – B.C.D., Chicago

A: So, you like rats, do you? Domestic pet rats are, in fact, great pets; they’re very interactive and surprisingly intelligent. Sadly, rats don’t live very long.

City rats are also intelligent, and clearly the Norway rat (though not actually from Norway) is a survivor, co-habitating with people around the world for centuries. In New York City alone, it’s estimated there are about 70 million rats.

The rat’s place in the ecosystem is unclear. In other words, without Norway rats, the world could be a better place. Certainly, the many diseases carried by rats might disappear.

Millions of feral cats roam freely in America. Placing them in shelters is actually not in the best interest of these unsocialized felines (and there’s no way to catch them all anyway). It’s labor- intensive to socialize these animals to be pets. In the meantime, they take up space better used for more adoptable cats.

Years ago, the TNR or trap/neuter/return program was launched, whereby volunteers trap feral cats and have them spayed/neutered, vaccinated for rabies and ear notched (to identify them as TNR animals). The cats are then returned to the outdoors, and caretakers oversee their care, offering extra food and warm shelter in cold climates.

Over time, because TNR cats can no longer reproduce, their numbers diminish.

Due to budget constraints, many American cities have cut back, or even eliminated, their rat abatement programs. In Chicago, Tree House Humane Society began a green program to put TNR cats to work eliminating rats. Community leaders love it, and so do the cats.

TNR cats are relocated to where there are rat infestations. Sometimes the cats catch the vermin, but mostly the rats move elsewhere. While these cats eventually die off, there are always reinforcements to take their places.

I consider myself a genuine fan of horror flicks. I’m that friend of yours who, at casual movie nights, eagerly suggests we watch something frightening, only to be met with perplexed looks and “I don’t like scary movies” whines. Fiiine. I blame these sorts of friends for the reasoning behind why I’ve never seen Pet Sematary — a film that horror fans and haters alike have all somehow seen at least once since it’s release in 1989. When I mentioned to my co-workers during an edit meeting that I’d be happy to watch Pet Sematary for our My First Timefranchise, I was met with the same looks as when I suggest watching a horror movie to a group of people, except this time the response was, “How? How have you not seen this?”

Here’s what I know: a happy family, the Creeds, moves into the house of their dreams, equipped with a very mysterious cemetery in the backyard. It might be worth mentioning that I haven’t read the book either, so I guess I’m in for a real treat. Here it goes, Pet Sematary on a Saturday night in my apartment, 25 years after its release.

1:47: This wins the award for Best Movie Prop Ever. The Creeds just moved from Chicago to Maine into this big, new house and a cemetery for pets looms behind their house. It’s spelled the way it’s spelled because a bunch of kids are the ones who put the graveyard together.

13:00: I really don’t think I’ll be able to handle if this cat dies. His name is Winston Churchill, therefore he should be immortal.

18:30: Maybe it’s time for some speed limit signs. So far it isn’t made clear why tractor trailers recklessly storm through this sleepy town but the phenomenon has everyone and their pets ending up dead. This guy, Victor Pascow, got hit by a tractor trailer. On his deathbed, he seems to know all about Dr. Louis Creed and right before he croaks, he gets all weird with it.

41:30: This is Missy, the Creeds’s housekeeper. Missy hated her life because she couldn’t find a man. She also had gastrointestinal problems. Apparently they were worse than average.

45:00: Zelda, Rachel Creed’s creepy sister who’s now dead, is hands down, the most fighting part of this movie.

50:00: WHOA! Certainly wasn’t expecting the kid to die. Like all little babies, Gage Creed is a wanderer, which ultimately decides his fate. Of course it isn’t his fault though because Louis and Rachel are never watching this kid. Their neighbor, Jud, always has to point out that Gage is running amok near the road.

1:09:00: I can’t handle much more of this Zelda thing. Whoever says old movies aren’t scary hasn’t seen Zelda in Pet Sematary.

1:20:00: Holy hell, Gage has come back from the dead and he just sliced poor Jud’s Achilles tendon. This is where I draw the line.

1:29:00: “Today is Thanksgiving Day for cats. But only cats who have come back from the dead.” Let it be known that Louis Creed has delivered the greatest piece of dialogue in horror movie history.

1:37:00: This guy just doesn’t get it. Even after he brought back a killer cat and then his killer son, Louis is still gung ho about bringing his wife, Rachel, back to life. After she got murdered by their killer son.

1:39:00: And on that note…

Final Thoughts: Even though Pet Cemetery was released 25 years ago it still scared the bejesus out of me. Stephen King’s story didn’t feel the slightest bit dated and the story of the Creeds is not one to watch by yourself. One piece of advice to take away from this movie: never bury your dead pets, dead children, or dead wife on cursed Indian burial grounds. They will come back to haunt you and then kill you.